Hand abrading tool

ABSTRACT

A hand abrading tool comprising a handle and a flat flexible blade over which is stretched a tape or strip of abrasive cloth, paper, etc. Clamping means control the tension of the abrasive strip and of the spring steel blade. The blade may be flexed or bowed longitudinally so as to permit the abrasive strip to conform laterally to small channels and grooves and odd shapes.

United States Patent Churchieh [54] HAND ABRADING TOOL [72] Inventor:Ljudo Churchich, 1777 Agate Street, St.

Paul, Minn. 55117 [22] Filed: July 15, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 55,155

[52] 11.8. C1 ..5l/392 [51] Int. Cl ..B24d 15/04 [58] Field of Search..51/392, 393, 389, 390, 170 TL, 51/170 EB [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Robbins ..5 1 392 4 14 Mar. 14, 1972 Stachelrodt.....51/392 X Anderson ..51/392 X Primary Examiner-Donald G. KellyAttorney-Burd, Braddock & Bartz [5 7] ABSTRACT A hand abrading toolcomprising a handle and a flat flexible blade over which is stretched atape or strip of abrasive cloth, paper, etc. Clamping means control thetension of the abrasive strip and of the spring steel blade. The blademay be flexed or bowed longitudinally so as to permit the abrasive stripto conform laterally to small channels and grooves and odd shapes.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR 14 I972 3,648, 11 8 INVENTORLJUDO CHURCHICH ATTORNEYS HAND ABRADING TOOL This invention relates to ahand abrading unit for use by machinists, mechanics, tool and die men,cabinet makers, hobbyists, etc., for all manner of sanding and abradingtasks. The abrading unit is adapted to the use of flexible strips ofabrasive tape for use on either flat or curved surfaces. The unit ischaracterized by a flexible blade which, depending upon the tension onthe abrasive tape, may be bowed to provide a relatively firm butlaterally deformable abrading surface capable of conforming to narrowgrooves or irregular surfaces. The flexible blade also functions as abacking for the abrasive material in abrading relatively flat surfaces.

The tool according to the present invention provides increasedversatility and ease of operation as compared with conventional sandingblocks, files and similar tools. It permits the abrasive surface toconform to virtually any contour to be abraded, whether flat, concave,convex, etc.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which thesame numerals identify corresponding parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the abrading tool;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the tool;

FIG. 3 is a similar side elevation shown with the supporting bladeflexed;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and in thedirection of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse section generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4but showing the abrasive material flexed laterally.

Referring now to the drawings, the sanding tool according to the presentinvention, indicated generally at 10, comprises a handle 11 of any sizeor shape adapted for easy grasping by the hand and a flat elongatedflexible blade 12 rigidly secured to the handle by any suitable meanssuch as rivets or the like. Blade 12 may desirably be inset in thegenerally flat base of the handle. The free flat end of the blade isbowed slightly at 13 to form a lip of small radius over which theabrasive material may be passed without being cut or torn.

Blade 12 is flexible, desirably being formed from 0.015- to 0.025-inchspring steel. The blade is desirably about four to seven inches long formost purposes. For general purpose use it is desirably about three-fourinch wide, adapted to be used with l-inch abrasive tape, although forother and more specialized purposes it may be either narrower or wider.In all instances the blade is desirably about one-eighth to three-eighthinch narrower than the abrasive tape with which it is adapted to beused. The blade should desirably also be about five-sixteenth tothree-eighth inch narrower than the width of the base of the handle atits point ofattachment.

A strip of flexible abrasive material, indicated generally at 14,extends from the handle in a top course 15 along the top of blade 12 inengagement therewith, around bowed tip 13 of the blade and back in alower course 16 spaced from blade 12 to the handle 11. The abrasivestrip 15 is held in place by a clamping mechanism comprising a tubularsleeve 17 of generally rectangular cross section secured, as by means ofpins 18, to the base of handle 11. The inside dimensions of tubularsleeve 17 are such that side walls thereof closely engage the sidesofthe base of handle 11 and the top and bottom walls are spaced from thebase of the handle a sufficient distance, such as about one-thirtysecondto one-sixteenth inch, to permit the easy insertion of a strip ofabrasive material in the slotlike passages between the inside of thesleeve and the base of the handle.

A pair of knurled knob screws 19 and 20 engage threaded aperturescentrally disposed in the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of thesleeve 17. The abrasive strip is held securely by means of these screws.For maximum gripping to maintain the flexible blade in flexed or bowedcondition (as seen in FIG. 3) the base of the handle 11 is countersunkslightly at 21 underlying the end of screw 20. The inside dimensions ofsleeve 17 are such as to provide easy clearance for the edges of theabrasive strip material. Desirably this is at least l-3/32 inchforl-inch abrasive tape.

The abrasive strip material may be commercial abrasive tape, abrasivecloth cut into strips, strips, abrasive paper cut into strips, abrasivemesh and screening, etc., so-called sandpaper, emery cloth, and thelike. A strip of the abrasive material of suitable length is cut and itsends are passed through the spaces on opposite sides of the handlebetween sleeve 17 and the base of the handle, pulled taut, and securedby tightening screws 19 and 20. For flat work and large radius concaveand convex surfaces, the blade may be lefi in its flat unflexedcondition as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Because the blade 12 is of lesser width than the abrasive material 14,the edges of the abrasive material overlap the blade, as best seen inFIG. 5. This prevents accidental scraping of the work by the edges ofthe blade. It also permits abrading of fine grooves and channels and thelike by using the blade edge with the edge of the abrasive tape foldedaround it as the working portion of the tool.

When it is desired to abrade a surface, such as groove 22 in work piece23 as seen in FIG. 5, then the blade 12 is flexed as seen in FIG. 3 byloosening screw 20, pulling the lower course 16 of abrasive tape throughthe clamping mechanism until blade 12 is bowed as desired, and thenclamping in place by retightening screw 20. As seen in FIG. 5, thispermits lateral flexing of the lower course 16 of the abrasive tape soas to conform to a surface such as groove 22. In the same manner, theabrasive tape may be flexed in the opposite direction to conform to aconvex or The flexible abrasive tool is useful for deburring and sandingin hard-to-reach areas and on diffiicultto-handle pieces. It may be usedto abrade small flat areas or nonplanar surfaces. The tension of theabrasive tape may be adjusted as desired. The tool is of simple ruggedconstruction designed to insure a long and useful life. The abrasivetape may be easily inserted, replaced and exchanged for other abrasivetapes of different fineness or coarseness.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this inventionas hereinbefore set forth maybe made without departing from the spiritand scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by wayof example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of theappended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A hand abrading tool comprising:

A. a handle,

B. a flat-ended flexible elongated blade fixedly secured to said handle,

C. a strip of flat flexible abrasive material having two ends extendingfrom one side of said handle around the end of said blade back to theopposite side of the handle, said abrasive material engaging said bladein surface contact therewith on no more than one side thereof, and

D. independent fastening means for securing one end of the abrasivematerial to one side of said handle and independently securing the otherend of the abrasive material under tension to the opposite side of saidhandle, whereby said flexible blade may be bowed and retained in bowedposition.

2. A hand abrading tool according to claim I further characterized inthat the base of said handle is relatively flat and said blade issecured to one flat surface thereof in longitudinal alignment therewith.

3. A hand abrading tool according to claim 2 further characterized inthat said means for securing the abrasive material to said handlecomprises:

A. a relatively flat slot on each of the opposite sides of the handlebase for receiving the respective ends of said strip of flexibleabrasive material,

B. said slots being in longitudinal alignment with said flexible blade,

C. clamping means for securing said abrasive material in said slots.

4. A hand abrading tool comprising:

A. a handle,

B. a flat-ended flexible elongated blade secured to said handle, thebase of said handle being relatively flat and said blade being securedto one flat surface thereof in longitudinal alignment therewith,

C. a strip of flexible abrasive material extending from one 5 side ofsaid handle around the end of said blade back to the opposite side ofthe handle, and

D. means for securing the abrasive material to said handle,

said means comprising:

1. a hollow tubular sleeve of generally rectangular cross sectiondisposed around and secured to the base of said handle,

2. said sleeve being in engagement with the edges of said handle baseand secured thereto and spaced from the opposite flat surfaces of thehandle base to form flat slots therebetween for receiving the respectiveends of said strip of flexible abrasive material,

3. said slots being in longitudinal alignment with said flexible blade,and

4. screw means centrally disposed in opposite sides of said O tubularsleeve overlying said slots for clamping said abrasive material in theslots.

5. A hand abrading tool according to claim 4 further characterized inthat the surface of said handle base opposite from the flat surface towhich said flexible blade is secured is countersunk underlying saidscrew means.

6. A hand abrading tool according to claim 4 further characterized inthat said blade is about one-eighth to threeeighth inch narrower thansaid strip of flexible adhesive material.

7. A hand abrading tool according to claim 4 further characterized inthat the free flat end of said flexible blade is provided with a smallradius arcuate lip.

8. A hand abrading tool according to claim 4 further characterized inthat said flexible blade is composed of about 0.015- to 0.025-inchspring steel.

9. A hand abrading tool according to claim 4 further characterized inthat said abrasive material is abrasive coated cloth tape.

zg g g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION patent 3,648 ,418 D d March 14 1972 Inventor) Ljudo Churchich It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shownvbelo'w:

Column 2, line 27, after "or", --other nonplanar surface-- should beinserted.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of August 1972.'

SEAL). Attest:

EDWARD N. FLETCHER,J'R. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. A hand abrading tool comprising: A. a handle, B. a flat-endedflexible elongated blade fixedly secured to said handle, C. a strip offlat flexible abrasive material having two ends extending from one sideof said handle around the end of said blade back to the opposite side ofthe handle, said abrasive material engaging said blade in surfacecontact therewith on no more than one side thereof, and D. independentfastening means for securing one end of the abrasive material to onesiDe of said handle and independently securing the other end of theabrasive material under tension to the opposite side of said handle,whereby said flexible blade may be bowed and retained in bowed position.2. A hand abrading tool according to claim 1 further characterized inthat the base of said handle is relatively flat and said blade issecured to one flat surface thereof in longitudinal alignment therewith.2. said sleeve being in engagement with the edges of said handle baseand secured thereto and spaced from the opposite flat surfaces of thehandle base to form flat slots therebetween for receiving the respectiveends of said strip of flexible abrasive material,
 3. said slots being inlongitudinal alignment with said flexible blade, and
 3. A hand abradingtool according to claim 2 further characterized in that said means forsecuring the abrasive material to said handle comprises: A. a relativelyflat slot on each of the opposite sides of the handle base for receivingthe respective ends of said strip of flexible abrasive material, B. saidslots being in longitudinal alignment with said flexible blade, C.clamping means for securing said abrasive material in said slots.
 4. Ahand abrading tool comprising: A. a handle, B. a flat-ended flexibleelongated blade secured to said handle, the base of said handle beingrelatively flat and said blade being secured to one flat surface thereofin longitudinal alignment therewith, C. a strip of flexible abrasivematerial extending from one side of said handle around the end of saidblade back to the opposite side of the handle, and D. means for securingthe abrasive material to said handle, said means comprising:
 4. screwmeans centrally disposed in opposite sides of said tubular sleeveoverlying said slots for clamping said abrasive material in the slots.5. A hand abrading tool according to claim 4 further characterized inthat the surface of said handle base opposite from the flat surface towhich said flexible blade is secured is countersunk underlying saidscrew means.
 6. A hand abrading tool according to claim 4 furthercharacterized in that said blade is about one-eighth to three-eighthinch narrower than said strip of flexible adhesive material.
 7. A handabrading tool according to claim 4 further characterized in that thefree flat end of said flexible blade is provided with a small radiusarcuate lip.
 8. A hand abrading tool according to claim 4 furthercharacterized in that said flexible blade is composed of about 0.015- to0.025-inch spring steel.
 9. A hand abrading tool according to claim 4further characterized in that said abrasive material is abrasive coatedcloth tape.